Royal Navy

The Royal Navy train thousands of Royal Marines every year at their first-class facilities in Devon

Royal Marines

Commando Training Centre Royal Marines is based at Lympstone in Devon. It trains new recruits and reserves, as well as delivering specialist trade training and continuation training.

The Royal Marines are the only armed force to train officers and other ranks in the same place, although they follow different courses. All Royal Marines return to Lympstone many times as they progress through their career. From the Potential Royal Marine Course (PRMC) to Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), from Potential Officers Courses (POC) to Commandant they will return to Lympstone. Equally they will attend specialist qualification courses at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) to improve their military skills.

Facilities at Lympstone are wide-ranging. They include a first-class gymnasium complex and swimming pool for combat swimming tests, an indoor range simulator incorporating the latest laser technology, a modern urban combat training complex, a nearby 300-metre rifle range to hone recruits’ shooting skills and on-site training areas within the 95 acre base.

In addition CTCRM has access to 2,500 acres of nearby Woodbury Common, as well as the training areas of Dartmoor and others in Wales and Scotland. On average, 1,200 recruits and 2,000 potential recruits, and 400 potential officers attend training courses and acquaint courses at CTCRM every year.